Vancouver area teen commits suicide after telling story of being cyberbullied (with video)

Gillian Shaw, Vancouver Sun10.11.2012

A Vancouver area teen who told a heart-breaking story in a YouTube video of cyberbullying that led to an all-out schoolyard attack has apparently committed suicide.
In stories and posts flooding Vancouver's social media networks, #RIPAmanda is trending as people post news and condolences for the teen identified as posting the video, Amanda Todd.YouTube
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Amanda Todd, a Vancouver area teen who told a heart-breaking story in a YouTube video of cyberbullying that led to an all-out schoolyard attack, has apparently committed suicide. In stories and posts flooding Vancouver's social media networks, #RIPAmanda is trending as people post news and condolences for the teen.Facebook
/ ...

Amanda Todd, a Vancouver area teen who told a heart-breaking story in a YouTube video of cyberbullying that led to an all-out schoolyard attack, has apparently committed suicide. In stories and posts flooding Vancouver's social media networks, #RIPAmanda is trending as people post news and condolences for the teen.Facebook
/ ...

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A Vancouver area teen who told a heart-breaking story in a YouTube video of cyberbullying that led to an all-out schoolyard attack has committed suicide.

In stories and posts flooding Vancouver's social media networks, #RIPAmanda is trending as people post news and condolences for the teen, Amanda Todd. Amanda died in Coquitlam last night.

The young teen went to school in Maple Ridge but had changed schools and was living in Coquitlam. She joined YouTube on September 6 and posted her video Sept. 7.

YouTube today pulled this video and in its place, written that is was removed because it violates YouTube's terms of service.

On Sept. 7, Amanda also uploaded a presentation Cyber Bullying on Prezi in which she explains what cyberbullying is and gives advice on dealing with it.

In what could turn out to be her own very sad legacy, Todd urged people to stand up to bullies and to help their victims:

"If you see that someone is being bullied, don't be afraid to tell the bully to stop doing what they are doing. Make sure to tell them that it's wrong and that they shouldn't bully other kids."

To parents, Amanda urged them "to always give your child emotional support" and help them if they are being bullied.

Amanda was a Grade 10 student at an alternative high school in Coquitlam called CABE (Coquitlam Basic Alternative Education), which has approximately 200 students in Grades 10 to 12.

The school district sent grief counsellors to the school today to speak with students and staff. "Any tragedy likes this impacts the school community immensely," said district spokeswoman Cheryl Quinton.

Amanda was being offered help, but Quinton said she could not elaborate for privacy reasons. "Supports were in place for this student at the school and community level," she said.

Quinton added that the district has many anti-bullying programs in its schools, and noted the issue is becoming even more challenging because of social media.

"Bullying . . . is an issue of prime concern for the school district," she said.

"RIP. my thoughts and prayers go to her family, I cannot even begin to imagine what they are going through. High school is supposed to be the best time of your life, not one where you fear for yourself every day. No one should have to feel the way she did. What is wrong with people, why do they feel the need to bully someone to their death? She was a beautiful young girl who went way too soon," wrote Breanna Lockhart Collins.

"I just heard about Amanda. I want to say to everyone who loved her, to all her family and friends, how sorry I am about her loss," Clark says on the video.

"No one deserves to be bullied. No one earns it. No one asks for it. It isn't a rite of passage. Bullying has to stop."

In a post on its Facebook page, G Force Gym, Home of the Vancouver All Stars cheerleaders, wrote:

"Today we feel the loss of our former VAS family member Amanda . . . I ask that we all watch her video and share her story so that her loss is not in vain. Allow this to be her legacy . . . Allow us all to look around & find the next Amanda before another precious spunky teenager is lost. We have a responsibility today . . . Is there a kid in your school that made a mistake and is being shunned? Your challenge is to be a LEADER . . . Be the Game Changers you are and sit with them today . . . reach out . . . smile . . . let them know that they are NOT alone in this harsh world. It's always EASY to do the EASY thing; we teach you to NOT do what is easy and instead, do what is right!! You will be surprised, how many people will follow YOU when you stick up for what is Right and honorable AND, forgiving those that have made mistakes in their YOUTH is the RIGHT thing to do!!"

In the video, Amanda told her story that was printed phrase by phrase on sheets of paper that she held up for the camera.

"I'm struggling to stay in this world, because everything just touches me so deeply. I'm not doing this for attention. I'm doing this to be an inspiration and to show that I can be strong. I did things to myself to make pain go away, because I'd rather hurt myself then someone else. Haters are haters but please don't hate, although im sure I'll get them. I hope I can show you guys that everyone has a story, and everyones future will be bright one day, you just gotta pull through. I'm still here aren't I ?" was the message accompanying the video post.

The video echoed another that the teen commented on through YouTube. That video, entitled My Story: Suicide and Bullying was uploaded by Mollydoyle18 on YouTube. It was clear from the comments that Amanda wanted to contact Molly in a private message and apparently she reached her. Commenting on Amanda's video, Molly wrote:

"Rest in peace and fly high to Amanda Todd. I was just messaging her about almost a week ago, and I just found out that she has taken her life. She was asking me about how to be an inspiration to others and to get her video more views, and now I have found out that she has passed away . . . This is a terrible tragedy. I wish she could have had her happy ending."

"Bullying is NEVER okay. Rest easy, Amanda. I'm so sorry to her family."

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Vancouver area teen commits suicide after telling story of being cyberbullied (with video)

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